Marion County landowner upset over fines for housing homeless

Renee Glass said she received a notice from Marion County officials stating that she was in violation of county codes by allowing family friends to stay in an RV on her property. (KPTV)

Glass said that she letter she received from Marion County officials states that she could face a fine of $1,025 for each violation found. (KPTV)

MARION COUNTY, OR (KPTV) -

Property owners in rural Marion County who are providing temporary refuge for families displaced by the region's housing crisis have been told to cease and desist.

Renee Glass, who has been allowing a close friend to park her recreational vehicle near her barn, said she received a notice from the county's code enforcement division informing her she was in violation of county ordinance.

"I was shocked," Glass said. "They're here because they can't afford to pay park rent. They're here because they have family, support, friends."

The county’s letter to Glass outlined the complaints, stating that an RV cannot be inhabited on the property for more than 120 days and that it cannot be “hard-lined” to utilities.

Glass contends that the people have been staying less than the 120-day limit, and said that utility hookups were all temporary, adding that the power was just from an extension cord.

She said she is not the only one getting a notice from the county, either, adding that two of her neighbors were also today to stop housing people on their property.

According to Marion County, there are more than 1600 people that classify as homeless in the region, and a waiting list for affordable housing has more than 10,000 names on it.

"Where are these people going to go?" Glass asked. "You kick them out off of private land. Where are they going to go?"

Glass was also skeptical of what the county would do with the $1,025 fine she would have to pay if she remained in violation of the county codes.

“If I pay a thousand dollar fine, are they going to give that money to Section 8?” she said. “Are they going to give them food?”

A spokesman for the Marion County Sheriff's Office, which oversees code enforcement, said the county is willing to work with property owners, and will provide extensions to enforcement deadlines as long as lines of communication remain open.

Nearly two weeks after 16-year-old Amy Yu vanished with 45-year-old Kevin Esterly, the pair was found Saturday in Mexico and the man was arrested, authorities say. (Allentown Police Department)

Nearly two weeks after a 16-year-old Pennsylvania girl vanished with a 45-year-old man, the pair was found Saturday in Mexico and the man was arrested, authorities say. Amy Yu was "unharmed and in good health."

Nearly two weeks after a 16-year-old Pennsylvania girl vanished with a 45-year-old man, the pair was found Saturday in Mexico and the man was arrested, authorities say. Amy Yu was "unharmed and in good health."